Melbourne wins Youth Travel Convention

Melbourne has been chosen to host The World Youth and Student Travel Convention (WYSTC) which will be held at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre and Crown Promenade, 7-13 October 2006.

The Convention is expected to bring more than 800 delegates from 400 companies and 80 countries to Melbourne.

“Youth and student travel is one of the fastest growing segments of the global travel market, contributing around $2.21 billion to the Australian economy. In 2003, 459,000 backpackers came to Australia and almost half of these young travellers visited Victoria,” said .Mr Garry Kingshott, CEO, Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB).

“The WYSTC will put the spotlight on Melbourne as a city for those seeking adventure, education and culture. This is an important event for Melbourne as this Convention is where the future of global youth and student travel is shaped,” Mr Kingshott added.

WYSTC Director, Susan Goldstein, said, “Bringing the conference to Melbourne is our way of saluting and acknowledging Australia’s immense contribution to the industry, and its recognition and documentation of the commercial and social value of youth and student travel for both sending and receiving nations.”

According to Mr Kingshott MCVB has, in the last month alone, won eight new international events for Melbourne worth more than $62 million to the State of Victoria.

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